We’ve always believed that forming a strategy is impossible until your clear on what your values and principles are. Without values and principles to guide you, making decisions can seem impossibly difficult. Given how important setting values and principles is to decision making we asked folks we admire to tell us about the values or principles that matter most to them.

Richelle Rich | Contemporary Visual Artist

Truth is the first principle that comes to mind. I am looking for truth when I make my work. An object, a colour, a story, whatever material I am working with, or whatever thought or concept preoccupies me, I am searching for an intrinsic truth. However complex or subjective the issue I am always searching for something true. History, the facts we are fed, are written by those still here to tell the stories, those with the loudest voices. In an age of misinformation and fake news, the truth of an issue in its simplest form seems imperative. I also aim to stay true to what ever impulse moves me to create and make, to not second guess or alter direction mid process. The pursuit of truth creates a framework for everything I create. Read more>>

Vin Sharma | Photographer

‘Connectedness’ is the principle that matters most to me – it has also had the most impact on my work. Being connected to each other, to everything around us means we are fully present. It signifies our humanity and reminds us that the bonds we create and sustain provide the life we want to lead. Read more>>

Stephanie Jazmines | Designer & Artist

There are a number of principles that matter most to me, but of those, I would pick 2: integrity and gratitude. I think those two are also ideas that are inherently intertwined in the base idea of how people value one another and themselves. Being straightforward and honest with people and with yourself is the core of morality, and being grateful and appreciative of people keeps you both grounded and sincerely humbled. That’s all important. Read more>>

Louis Angel | Artist/Curator

Creating is an immensely gratifying endeavor, whether it involves providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work in one of my shows or embarking on my own creative journey in the middle of the night. This satisfaction is particularly profound when artists are sharing their work with the world for the first time. Witnessing the emotional response of a creator as they unveil a very private part of themselves, all the while entrusting me with this task, is a truly euphoric experience. Read more>>

Lucie McCormick | Documentary Filmmaker

Everything we do is a micro-expression of who we are; at work, with strangers, in relationships, and alone with ourselves, we are a tapestry of our choices and experiences. I try to be consistent with my values even when it is uncomfortable – I think that helps me feel more cohesive and honest as I move between things. Read more>>